Chapter 36: The City of Astrology, Sgdel (1)

“Really not going?” The old dean picked up the pipe on the table and smiled at Professor Hod.
Hod looked troubled and said shyly, “Dean, see… I still have things to do.”
“Things? What kind of things?”
“I’ve already taught that child the Flame Flash technique. It’s still in the basic stage. I can’t leave right now. If the foundation isn’t solid, it will be a problem later…”
“Oh? You’ve already taught it to that kid? So fast?” The old dean changed his tone and said nonchalantly, biting his pipe, “Then take that kid with you. You can guide him anytime. That should work, right?”
“But… there are still classes…”
“Classes?” The old dean, still biting his pipe, gave Professor Hod a funny look and said smilingly, “Don’t worry. The guests from Salonia won’t arrive for another four days. Four days is enough time for you to go to [Sgdel]…”
“Then won’t I have to come back?”
“…” The old dean opened his mouth, took a couple of puffs from his pipe, and, facing Professor Hod’s hopeful gaze, smiled and said, “Aren’t we at Riox Academy supposed to hold a magic competition with those Salonian students? There’s enough time. It won’t delay that kid… It’s settled!”
“I…” Professor Hod seemed to want to say more, but after looking at the old dean’s smiling face, he finally nodded and sighed slightly.
A few minutes later, watching Professor Hod leave, the old dean stood up cheerfully, turned to look at the sky outside the window, and murmured, “I hope everything goes well…”
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhe had just sent off the old priest named Andrew.
To be honest, facing Andrew’s “kind gestures,” Jiang Zhe really found it hard to cope. He found it strange why this old man, one of the twelve cardinal archbishops of the Church, seemed so friendly toward him—after all, they didn’t even know each other…
Talking about white magic being more interesting than black magic, insisting on dragging him to Salonia… There must be some reason behind this…
“Hey, still thinking?” Allen laughed as he looked at Jiang Zhe lying on the sofa. “I say, Sos, why hesitate with such a good opportunity? If it were me, I’d have agreed long ago!”
“Agreed to what?” Scott, sitting on the other end of the sofa and flipping through a magic book, pushed up his glasses without even lifting his head.

“Going to Thessalonica?” Allen clapped his hands in surprise, acting rather over-the-top. “Haven’t you heard? That old man was one of the twelve cardinals of the Church. Even if he wanted to disguise himself, it’s impossible for him to come to our Rieux just to pretend to be someone else, right?”
“And so what?” Scott replied indifferently.
“You idiot!” Allen shook his head in disappointment at Scott, then suddenly turned around and said to Jiang Zhe with a grin, “I heard there are many beautiful ladies in Thessalonica… Hey, why not take me along?” But as soon as he finished speaking, his body trembled slightly before he stopped moving. If you looked closely, you could see layers of web-like black threads wrapped around him, and those threads came from Scott’s right hand, which he had raised.
“Hey, man, it’s just a joke, right?” It was hard to imagine that someone trapped could still turn their head, but Allen managed to do it. His unnatural strength sometimes even made Scott’s curse magic ineffective.
“Stay back!” Scott frowned and glared at Allen, then lifted the restraints. He hesitated before saying to Jiang Zhe, “Sos, I think it’s not that simple… It’s possible, as he said, that you’ve met someone from the Church. Otherwise, it can’t explain the magic circle on the back of your hand…”
Regarding the magic circle, Jiang Zhe told his two roommates everything he knew, as he saw no reason not to.
“Right!” Leaning against the sofa, Allen nodded repeatedly. “From what that old man said, this magic circle seems quite special… By the way, do you feel anything unusual about it?”
“Well, no…” Jiang Zhe shook his head hesitantly, touching the magic circle on the back of his left hand. “This magic circle indeed does, as Father Andrew said, have the effect of suppressing negative emotions… When I feel irritable or angry before, it seems to emit a calm energy…”
“Suppressing negative emotions?” Scott was stunned. He pushed his glasses up and pondered. “I’ve only heard that precious magical ornaments have such effects. This magic circle actually…” He looked up at Jiang Zhe and asked doubtfully, “Do you really not remember who engraved this magic circle on you?”
“Really!” Jiang Zhe nodded helplessly. He had said this several times already that afternoon.

“That’s strange…” Scott seemed to think of something and said to Jiang Zhe, “Are you… going to Salonia?”
“Why would I go there?”
“Uh…” For some reason, Scott hesitated for a long time before speaking his mind, “To become an apprentice of a grand mage… I’ve heard of Father Andrew; he’s a grand mage!”
“And so what? I think Professor Hod can also reach the level of a grand mage…” Jiang Zhe shrugged nonchalantly, but as soon as he finished speaking, a self-mocking joke came from the door.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t reach the level of a grand mage!”
“Huh?” Jiang Zhe turned around in surprise and saw Professor Hod standing at the door, smiling at him.
“Hello, Professor Hod!” Scott stood up and called out.
“Hmm, hello, Scott!”
“Hey, Professor, you look great today!” Allen waved cheerfully from beside the sofa.
“You little rascal,” Professor Hod walked in and patted Allen on the head. Even without considering the nearly three months spent in the Rio Village, he had already become familiar with Scott and Allen, so he wasn’t bothered. He simply gave Jiang Zhe a slight nod and said, “Get ready quickly; come with me to a place!”
“Where… where to?” Jiang Zhe was clearly confused.
Professor Hod sighed deeply and shook his head, saying, “Don’t ask. Just get ready quickly!”
“Professor, where are you going?” It seemed Allen always had to get involved in everything.
It appeared Professor Hod wasn’t very willing to explain, but when he looked at Allen, he seemed to think of something and said with a smile, “If you want to come too, I can take you along!” Then he turned to Scott and said, “How about Scott comes too?”
“…” Looking at Professor Hod’s strange smile, Scott and Allen exchanged a glance before hesitantly saying, “Professor, I feel like this… uh, forget it. There are still classes at the academy!”
“What classes? The dean said there won’t be any classes for a week!” Professor Hod glanced at Scott and Allen and said with a smile, “We’re going to [Sgdel]!”
“Sgdel?” Scott’s expression changed slightly as he exclaimed in surprise, “Could it be the magical city of Sgdel, known as the [Wheel of Astrologers]?”
Professor Hod’s smile said it all—he himself didn’t want to set foot in that place either…

“How many more Sgeldels are there?” A clear voice came from the door, carrying a faintly familiar tone of sarcasm.
“It’s Ravia,” Professor Hod turned around, smiling with a hint of mischief, “Are you ready?”
Ravia glanced secretly inside the dormitory and nodded like a good girl, saying, “I’m ready, Professor…” As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Zhe stepped out from the inner room, carrying a suitcase on one shoulder, and said to Ravia in a strange tone, “Are you going too?”
Ravia’s cute face darkened instantly, and she said in a very dissatisfied tone, “Why can’t I go?”
“You can go, you can go…”
“What’s that tone of yours?”
“I was just joking,” Jiang Zhe muttered softly, then glanced at Scott and Allen and shrugged, “Scott, Allen, you two…” Before he could finish, Allen interrupted him.
“Sgeldel, of course I’m going! I’ve wanted to go there since I was little!”
“What do you want to do there?”
“Of course…” Allen leaned closer to Jiang Zhe and whispered something in his ear, causing Jiang Zhe’s expression to become very strange.
Want to use prophecy or astrology to find out who your future wife will be?
Jiang Zhe shook his head helplessly and turned to Scott, asking, “What about you?”
Scott pushed his glasses up, as usual, and smiled, “How could I miss such an interesting thing?”
“Alright,” Professor Hod clapped his hands when everyone agreed, “Since that’s the case, hurry up and get ready. This time we’re in a hurry. I’ll go get a carriage. Meet at the school gate in an hour!”
“Okay, Professor!”
After saying that, Professor Hod turned and left. By then, Jiang Zhe had already walked around the bedroom twice. He felt there was nothing else to bring except for the academy’s magic robes. After all, according to the professor, the round trip would only take four or five days—what was there to prepare?
He stuffed his suitcase back under the bed and looked at Ravia, who was staring at him with a strange expression. After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Zhe spoke first, “I mean, Ravia, aren’t they going this time? Uh, I mean Lisa and Lailira…”

“Hm?” Seemingly not understanding Jiang Zhe’s meaning, Lavia set down her travel bag containing her spare clothes, walked straight to the sofa, and sat down. She said indifferently, “They still have things to do. Last time it was because…” As she spoke, it seemed she remembered something; her expression suddenly darkened, and she glared at Jiang Zhe, saying in a mocking tone, “But you didn’t bring that senior sister either…”
Frowning slightly, Jiang Zhe said unhappily, “What are you talking about? I was just asking casually…”
“Well, I was just talking casually too. Why are you getting upset?” Saying this, Lavia changed her sitting position, crossing her right leg over her left and resting her hands on her knees, then stared at Jiang Zhe with a playful expression.
Although Lavia had a boy’s name and a boyish personality, especially considering her face, I doubt anyone would describe her as cute. The only word that fits her is “bold.” Not to mention her eyes—just those sword-like eyebrows were enough to scare away ordinary boys. But in terms of her body curves, Lavia could clearly outshine girls her age, even though she was just a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl, with her loose magic robe covering most of her curves…
Indeed, there was a hint of maturity in her…
“Me getting upset?” Jiang Zhe gave her a disapproving look, shook his head self-mockingly, walked over to the sofa, and gently pushed Lavia’s right leg off her left.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re blocking my way. Thanks!”
“You!” As expected, Lavia turned red with anger again, glared fiercely at the boy in front of her, changed her sitting position, and said in a mocking tone, “Anyway, there’s still an hour left. Why not bring your senior sister along? Oh, I think you called her by name directly, right? Hmph!”
“Hehe,” Allen glanced at Lavia and then at Jiang Zhe, chuckled, and winked at Jiang Zhe, saying, “Dude, let’s go get ready…” Then he gave Scott a angry pout.
“Hah!” Scott shook his head helplessly, stood up, and went inside with Allen.
Seeing his two best friends “wisely” step back, Jiang Zhe’s bad mood didn’t improve at all. He stared at Lavia silently for a long time until she shyly avoided his gaze. Only then did he say irritably, “What exactly do you want? I warn you—don’t be unreasonable…”
Lavia’s expression immediately darkened. Slapping the sofa in anger, she said, “Who’s being unreasonable?”

“Okay, fine,” Jiang Zhe said helplessly, shaking his head as he raised his hands in surrender. “It’s just a piece of scarlet stone. I’ll give you ten pieces in exchange, okay?”
“Ten pieces? That’s easy for you to say. Where are you going to find ten pieces of scarlet stone?” murmuring at the boy in front of her, Lavia suddenly realized something, frowned, and said irritably, “What does that stone have to do with it?” Then, biting her lip, she muttered in a voice only she could hear, “Besides, it’s completely different…”
“Are you making a face just because of that stone?”
“Of course not!”
“Oh?” Jiang Zhe looked at Lavia in surprise and asked doubtfully, “Then why?”
“Because…” Lavia bit her lip, glanced secretly at the boy, and after hesitating for a long time, shook her head and said, “It’s nothing!”
“…Really confusing!” Staring at Lavia suspiciously, Jiang Zhe said hesitantly, “Lavia, if there’s something, just tell me…”
“It’s nothing,” Lavia said, giving Jiang Zhe an impatient glance before her voice suddenly dropped. “Um… Sos, didn’t I tell you not to call me by my name?”
“Not call you by your name?” Jiang Zhe looked at her in confusion. “Why?”
“Because…” Lavia lowered her head, bit her lip, and pondered for a while. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she said softly, “Because that name doesn’t sound good…”
“Doesn’t sound good?” Jiang Zhe was stunned. He repeated Lavia’s name softly and murmured, “It sounds pretty good…” As soon as he finished speaking and looked up, he saw Lavia’s displeased and angry gaze. He quickly changed his tone and said, “Um, right, right, it really doesn’t sound good. I remember it’s a boy’s name…” He paused and asked doubtfully, “Then what should I call you? I can’t call you ‘hey’, right?”
“Idiot!” Lavia muttered softly before raising her head and pretending to be indifferent. “Just call me Avi from now on. It’s still a boy’s name, but it’s much better than that one…”
“Avi? Avi?” Jiang Zhe repeated it softly, then looked up ready to speak, only to see Lavia’s face turn red. He asked in surprise, “Are… are you hot?”
It was a simple sentence, but it made Lavia shiver. She quickly raised her right hand to fan herself and stammered, “Y-yes… it’s really a bit hot in your room…”
“Hot?” Jiang Zhe turned to look at the fireplace, where almost no flames were left in the wood…

Seeming to notice the boy’s strange look, Ravia forced a smile and quickly changed the subject. “Sos, do you know about Segdel? A magical city with the title [House of Astrologers]…”
“I do!” Jiang Zhe shrugged.
Clearly surprised by the boy’s answer, Ravia asked in astonishment, “You… you actually know? Where did you hear about it?”
Jiang Zhe shook his head jokingly and said, “I heard about it from Scott and you…”
“…”
Obviously, Ravia was a very serious girl who didn’t like joking. She glared at Jiang Zhe and said irritably, “I’m talking seriously here—stop joking!”
Seeing that Ravia seemed to have forgotten about the scarlet stone, Jiang Zhe happily went along with her, shrugged, and said, “Okay, okay. I don’t know. Go ahead and explain…”
“That’s better. Then let me give you a brief introduction. Anyway, the professor will explain it too…” With that, Ravia winked and said softly, “Segdel is also a magical city…”
“I already know that…”
“Shut up!” Glaring at the boy fiercely, the girl began to explain Segdel as if it were their first meeting, just as she usually did when explaining magical principles to him. At such times, a hint of pride would appear in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth would often curl upward…
“Sos, do you know that Segdel has a history as long as ours in Riox? In the entire magical world, although magicians are generally divided into black magicians and white magicians, there are still some magicians with special roles. Perhaps they don’t possess powerful destructive magic, but they can do things that neither black nor white magicians can…”

I’ve already told you before; I think you should remember that magic originates from alchemy. Black magic comes from the dark powers of abyssal demons, while white magic stems from the natural forces of the elves. But aside from these two, there are also some special applications of magic, such as enchantment, crafting scrolls, and making potions. All of these originally fell under alchemy. Early alchemy wasn’t just about creating magical items; true alchemy included both “transmutation” and “enchantment.” Transmutation refers to the usual creation of magical items, but not only that—ranging from accessories and weapons that enhance magical power to large-scale magic arrays that enable long-distance movement, powerful magic crystal cannons that serve as basic defensive facilities for fortresses, and even intricately crafted alchemical puppets, that is, what’s commonly known as magic dolls…

Apart from the two main categories of black mages and white mages, if we use a more formal and accurate classification, the vast world of magic can generally be divided into four types: [Mages], [Dark Mages], [Alchemists], and [Astrologers]. Almost all types of magical factions are included here. [Mages] include black mages, white mages, illusionists, summoners, spellcasters, and so on. [Dark Mages], whose power comes from dealing with demons, cannot truly be classified as black mages. Any mage who gains power through bargaining or sacrifice belongs to the category of Dark Mages. [Alchemists] include enchanters, potion makers, scroll crafters, puppet masters, etc. They don’t possess very strong power themselves, but they can create many useful things. The last category is [Astrologers]. Actually, I don’t know much about astrologers either. I only know that they don’t have particularly strong power—some are even weaker than you… No interrupting! But at the same time, they can gain knowledge that ordinary people cannot access. They study the stars, believing that they possess great power for predicting the future or uncovering unknown secrets. Some astrologers can even determine a person’s death time…

Sgeldel is a magical city belonging to the astrologers. Of course, it used to be like that, and even now, some mages and alchemists live there. Unlike Riox, Sgeldel isn’t an academy but a place where knowledgeable mages exchange academic ideas. The most famous building in Sgeldel is the [Mage Tower—Vandel], which has stood since the early days of the empire. In ancient languages, it means lightning and thunder, the most majestic suffixes.

Legend has it that anyone who dares desecrate this sacred mage tower must endure the wrath of the Thunder God… It is said that Hastings, the royal chief mage and highly respected archmage, once studied magic in this tower under a [Sage], that is, a holy mage…
As she spoke, Lavia looked up and happened to see Jiang Zhe with a puzzled expression on his face. His brows were furrowed as he struggled to think of something.
“Royal chief mage… Hastings… Holy mage?”
“What’s wrong, Thors? Is there something wrong?”
“No, nothing,” Jiang Zhe shook his head uncertainly. “I seem to have heard that name somewhere before…”
Lavia rolled her eyes dismissively and said irritably, “I thought it was something more important. He’s an archmage—what’s so strange about having heard his name?”
“No, you don’t understand. What I mean is…” Jiang Zhe frowned even more and shook his head repeatedly. “It seems… it seems like somewhere… and the term ‘holy mage’ too, I seem to…”
“What seems like what!” Lavia glared at Jiang Zhe impatiently, crossing her arms on her lap. “It’s almost time. Don’t keep the professor waiting. Let’s go, Thors!” With that, she stood up and called out to the inner room, “Scott, Allen, we’re not waiting for you anymore…”
As soon as she finished speaking, Allen’s panicked voice came from inside, “No, no! That will delay my important task!”
“What important task?” Scott, who came out with him, asked in confusion. Allen just grinned and winked, saying, “Hehe, I won’t tell you!”
“Fine… if you don’t want to say!”
While the two were bickering, Jiang Zhe continued to ponder those words that sounded so familiar to him, especially that term “holy mage”…
“Archmage? So what? As for me…”
“…I want to become a holy mage!”